Mr. Ngulube says the maize crop harvest has increased to 4 million 115 thousand by 50 kilogram bags this year compared to last year when the district harvested 2 million 885 thousand by 50 kilogram bags.

Mr. Ngulube attributed the increased harvest to good rainfall that the district received in the 2016/2017 season and quick intervention by government to curb fall Army worms that had attacked the crop.

And Mr. Ngulube explained that the district has also increased its yields in most crops this year.

He says groundnuts yield has increased by 55 percent as the district is expected to harvest slightly over 479,000 by 50 kilogram bags this year compared to 309, 952 by 50 kilogram bags harvested last year.

Mr. Ngulube says most farmers in the district have cultivated soya beans this season, which has resulted in an increase of 70 percent of the crop yield.

He says the district will harvest 500,000 by 50 kilogram bags of soya beans this year compared to 200,000 by 50 kilogram bags harvested last year.

Mr. Ngulube added that Tobacco has also recorded an increase of 55 percent while sunflower has increased by 15 percent.

Some cyclists in Chipata have vowed not pay any levy to Chipata City Council.

This follows a meeting which was held on April 20, 2017 where the local authority directed cyclists to start paying levy.

One of the cyclists Peter Tembo told Breeze News that not until a meeting for all stakeholders is called, cyclists will not pay levy to Chipata City Council.

Mr. Tembo who is also Kapata ward PF Chairperson says all cyclists have agreed that the provincial permanent secretary must attend the meeting and confirm that the directive to have cyclists start paying levy was issued by President Edgar Lungu.

He says that during the meeting held on the 20th of April 2017, Director for Housing and Social Services at Chipata City Council Judith Maambo told the cyclists that President Edgar Lungu directed councils to start charging cyclist levy.

Mr. Tembo says representatives of the President such as Provincial Permanent Secretary, District Commissioner, Mayor, town clerk and councilors need to affirm what the president had said about cyclists paying levy.

He argued that since late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa had directed that cyclists stop paying levy to the council, it is only the head of state, who can reverse the directive.